2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Tentatively Priced From $27,995

One of the most anticipated cars of the year is the 2013 Ford Fusion, which will be attempting to cater to a much wider audience than the current model thanks to the introduction of three separate variants: regular gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid.

While the plug-in hybrid, or Energi as Ford likes to call it, won’t be available at this year’s launch, the hybrid model will be.

Just as with the previous generation, Ford is hoping its 2013 Fusion Hybrid becomes a class-leader for fuel efficiency. It predicts gas mileage of 47 in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.

If Ford achieves these numbers, the car’s fuel economy stands to outperform those of both the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid (by 4 mpg city and 5 mpg highway) and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid by 12 mpg and 4 mpg, respectively.

Combined output from the new Fusion Hybrid’s 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and electric motor will be 180 horsepower.

(Note that Ford says the listed prices and features are for survey purposes only and are subject to change.)

For the basic 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, you will be looking at a tentative starting price of $27,995.

That’s a bit steeper than the $25,990 starting price of the Camry Hybrid and the $25,850 sticker of the Sonata Hybrid, but you get one of the best-looking mid-size sedans on the market--along with a host of extras.

Some of the features mentioned, though not confirmed, include 17-inch aluminum wheels, SYNC with MyFord connectivity, two customizable LCD screens in the dash and a powered driver seat with 10-way adjustments and lumbar support.

In case you’re looking for a regular Fusion, prices start at just $22,495 though if you want the fuel saving stop-start feature (which comes standard as part of the Fusion Hybrid system), you’ll need to fork over an extra $295.